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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama challenged the nation's vested interests to a legislative duel Saturday, saying he will fight to change health care, energy and education in dramatic ways that will upset the status quo.
"The system we have now might work for the powerful and well-connected interests that have run Washington for far too long," Obama said in his weekly radio and video address. "But I don't. I work for the American people."
He said his ambitious budget plan, unveiled Thursday, will help millions of Americans, but only if Congress overcomes resistance from deep-pocket lobbies.
"I know these steps won't sit well with the special interests and lobbyists who are invested in the old way of doing business, and I know they're gearing up for a fight," Obama said, using tough-guy language reminiscent of his predecessor, George W. Bush. "My message to them is this: So am I."
Some analysts say Obama's proposals are almost radical. But he said all of them were included in his campaign promises. "It is the change the American people voted for in November," he said.
Nonetheless, he said, well-financed interest groups will fight back furiously.
Insurance companies will dislike having "to bid competitively to continue offering Medicare coverage, but that's how we'll help preserve and protect Medicare and lower health care costs," the president said. "I know that banks and big student lenders won't like the idea that we're ending their huge taxpayer subsidies, but that's how we'll save taxpayers nearly $50 billion and make college more affordable. I know that oil and gas companies won't like us ending nearly $30 billion in tax breaks, but that's how we'll help fund a renewable energy economy."
Passing the budget, even with a Democratic-controlled Congress, "won't be easy," Obama said. "Because it represents real and dramatic change, it also represents a threat to the status quo in Washington."
Congressional Republicans continued to bash Obama's spending proposals and his projection of a $1.75 trillion deficit this year.
Almost every day brings another "multibillion-dollar government spending plan being proposed or even worse, passed," said Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., who gave the GOP's weekly address.
He said Obama is pushing "the single largest increase in federal spending in the history of the United States, while driving the deficit to levels that were once thought impossible."
Humm. I never said I liked GWB.. You sir are an idiot for amusing that.
Dude after someone implies that you are on someone elses "cokc," he last thing I'd put first in a respone, is "Humm" ............I'm just sayin' but I lulz'd
__________________ Gun Totin' Liberals: Left of Center But Always on Target
^You my friend love george bushs cokc, and are a retard.Obama is the best thing that happened to this country... so go die.
right so now that hes in power basically every person in america owes around 120-150k and growing woooohooo yeah go obama wooohooo yeah i wanna pay for stupid ass people who took dumb ass loans woooohooooo fffffffaaaaaaaakkkkkkkkk yyyyyyyeeeeeaaaaahhhhhhhh
Dude after someone implies that you are on someone elses "cokc," he last thing I'd put first in a respone, is "Humm" ............I'm just sayin' but I lulz'd
The only post in this fread worth reading. Helps break up the monotony of the tard fighting.
__________________
Quote:
Originally Posted by MarvinMartian
Why does the US Gov't want to watch me touch myself while I watch "Gilmore Girls" and eat Hot Pockets?
Almost every day brings another "multibillion-dollar government spending plan being proposed or even worse, passed," said Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., who gave the GOP's weekly address.
He said Obama is pushing "the single largest increase in federal spending in the history of the United States, while driving the deficit to levels that were once thought impossible."
These were the only two significant sentences in that entire article. Obama's stimulus package was riddled with grants for special interests. Now he wants fight? Sure, after all of his special interests were paid off with the last nearly trillion dollar package.
These were the only two significant sentences in that entire article. Obama's stimulus package was riddled with grants for special interests. Now he wants fight? Sure, after all of his special interests were paid off with the last nearly trillion dollar package.
Did you actually read the bill or are you just parroting what you have read in the news?
Insurance companies will dislike having "to bid competitively to continue offering Medicare coverage, but that's how we'll help preserve and protect Medicare and lower health care costs," the president said. "I know that banks and big student lenders won't like the idea that we're ending their huge taxpayer subsidies, but that's how we'll save taxpayers nearly $50 billion and make college more affordable. I know that oil and gas companies won't like us ending nearly $30 billion in tax breaks, but that's how we'll help fund a renewable energy economy."
I'm all for changing the status quo, but I think we see things a bit differently on what the status quo is.
Competitive bidding on medicare coverage is all well and good, but the implementation and how much of a hand the government has in that "cookie jar" is a whole other matter. I don't know enough about the specifics of this plan to comment too much.
As far at the college loans and tax breaks to the gas companies go, that's only going to affect where we pay for it. The tax breaks of 30 billions will just be put onto the front end of a gallon of gas. The American people will still pay for it. The same goes for college loans - I can see those just being more expensive in the long run when you need them.
I guess we'll wait for more information on the plan... while you're doing that go take a look at Rush's C-PAC speech and start another thread. Very interesting guy.
No amount of squeezing the insurance companies will reduce the cost of providing health care. Government subsidies have driven up demand with no corresponding increase in supply. The only people that benefit from healthcare subsidies are the providers and the subsidized person. Everybody else ends up paying more as a result.
I don't agree with government intervention, but if we're going to get government involved in healthcare, they should spend the money to increase supply.
People should really look to other countries as an example for national or universal health care. When doctors are paid the same for alot of things. There is no incentive for them to work harder or better. There is no incentive to take on more patients. So in turn, my aunt who is a UK citizen waited 3 days for a doctor to be a able to see her in an emergency situation to find out if had it been earlier her baby would have survived. But hey she saved a ton on health care every year!
Closer to home, look at canada, people are coming to us for healthcare, because they don't have time or the will power to wait for their doctors to open up on their schedule.
I'm sorry but you get what you pay for. That is reality. No one will work just as hard for you for half the pay.
Obama challenges lobbyists to legislative duel!!!
but I lulz'd
right so now that hes in power basically every person in america owes around 120-150k and growing woooohooo yeah go obama wooohooo yeah i wanna pay for stupid ass people who took dumb ass loans woooohooooo fffffffaaaaaaaakkkkkkkkk yyyyyyyeeeeeaaaaahhhhhhhh
